TOPIC 121

TOPIC 121: Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different. Use specific reasons to support your answer.

Essay 1

I think it's probably true that people are never satisfied with what they have. They always want something more or something different from what is theirs. This just seems to be part of our human nature. Look at a toddler. Give her a toy to play with and she's happy-until she sees something else. Then she wants that other toy to play with. If she and her brother are each given a cookie, she'll look to see whose cookie is bigger. She'll protest loudly if she thinks her brother is getting more.

"The grass is always greener" is an old expression, but it's a good expression of how many of us feel. We're always striving for a better job, a nicer place to live, a fancier car, or more expensive clothes. Part of this reaching for more and better is because we care about what other people think and want to impress them. Part of it is trying to make ourselves feel successful. But there's also something in our nature that tells us we can do better and reach higher.

This isn't always a negative quality. There's another saying: "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?" It's a good thing to be constantly pushing ourselves and looking for something different. If we don't try for more and different things, we begin to, stagnate, like a pool that doesn't get any fresh water.

The problem comes when we won't let ourselves be satisfied with anything we have. If we have a comfortable life and still feel as if something's missing, then we need to look inward. The something that's missing may be in our spirit.

(Essay ID: 216 )

Essay 2

Many of the world's religions share a belief that when a person is able to look at and confess his or her problems that person can begin to travel the road to emotional recovery. A problem cannot be solved until it is clearly recognized. I agree with the above statement because I believe that dissatisfaction and suffering forces people to change. History presents many examples of dissatisfaction and change. The history of China in this century might be seen as one of dissatisfaction and progress. Sun Yet San was discontented with the decaying imperial order, and so he created “revolution”; Mao was dissatisfied with the course of events and so he intensified the revolution; finally, Deng pushed the Chinese economy towards free-market economics. Hence, China progressed towards its new-found “superpower” status.

In a not dissimilar way, during the eighteenth century many Americans became annoyed with direct British rule, and so the United States fought for and gained political independence.

On a personal level, dissatisfaction can lead to change within friendship and marriage. Perhaps it might even be said that true love cannot remain static. Matrimony and friendship are explorations of the higher emotions: they are pilgrimages towards the city of true values. If husband and wife are prepared to confront and discuss their problems, a blue period can give way to many years of happiness. Sometimes, for instance, a spouse may not recognize that the source of marital unhappiness is that the other partner has developed a need to have children. Whatever else may be said, most people would agree that children change the lives of their parents.

The best method of utilizing dissatisfaction is to change things before they get out of hand. An intelligent man will constantly monitor his emotions; an intelligent politician will understand the mood of his people. Some people might suggest that the transition to independence for Canada and Australia was much smoother than that of the United States because Britain allowed those two dominions to evolve with time. To take the idea further, a good parent or an astute politician will even anticipate potential dissatisfactions and therefore take precautions.

I agree with the above statement because, I believe that we mature through dissatisfaction. Without the ability to recognize our discontent, we could collapse into illness. Suffering sharpens our senses.

(Essay ID: 487 )